Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Players without high profiles help the Dolphins to another victory as several starters remain injured.
MIAMI GARDENS — All season the Dolphins have survived and thrived on plays from lesser-known, lower-profile players, and the same thing happened Sunday in their 26-23 victory over Arizona.
Kicker Andrew Franks, who entered the game a shaky 13 of 17 on field goals, hit a 21-yarder as time expired to deliver the victory.
Middle linebacker Mike Hull, starting for the injured Kiko Alonso, and safety Baccari Rambo, a midseason acquisition, both had interceptions. Linebacker Spencer Paysinger, playing in the nickel package for injured starter Jelani Jenkins, and defensive end Terrence Fede, who was inactive a couple of games earlier this season, both recovered fumbles.
And defensive tackle Jordan Phillips blocked an extra point that safety Walt Aikens returned for a 2-point score.
All told, the Dolphins came up with four turnovers and all were made by players who weren’t projected as starters coming out of training camp.
Landry, Stills show strongly
Wide receivers Kenny Stills (six receptions, 97 yards, one touchdown) and Jarvis
Landry (four receptions, 103 yards) combined to fuel a Miami offense that wasn’t able to do much on the ground.
Stills had a 28-yard touchdown reception as well as a 29-yard completion with 37 seconds left that set up the game-winning field goal.
Landry had a 71-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter that set up a touchdown reception by running back Damien Williams.
Ajayi watch
Running back Jay Ajayi ended with 48 yards rushing on 20 carries, an average of 2.4 yards per carry. Ajayi now has 956 yards rushing on 193 carries this season and averages 4.9 yards per carry . ...
Alonso and Jenkins, center Mike Pouncey, defensive end Mario Williams, cornerback Xavien Howard, tight end Thomas Duarte and wide receiver Rashawn Scott were inactive . ... Tight end Dion Sims had a 2-yard touchdown reception Sunday, giving him 11 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the past five games . ... Miami’s run defense, which entered the game 30th in the NFL at 130.3 yards allowed per game, yielded 175 yards rushing to Arizona. The Dolphins have now allowed 10 opponents, including the past four, to rush for more than 100 yards.
Linebackers do the job
It wasn’t pretty for the injury-ravaged linebackers, but they contributed to a victory. Hull, the second-year undrafted player from Penn State, ended with eight tackles, tied for the team lead with Paysinger, also a substitute starter.
Hull and Paysinger led a so-so showing for the linebackers. Although the linebackers have been criticized all season when you throw in Neville Hewitt (three tackles) and
Donald Butler (one tackle), they had a credible showing against Arizona . ...
The Dolphins never trailed Sunday, although they did allow Arizona to tie the game at 23 in the fourth quarter . ...
Special teams made a huge difference. Arizona blew 5 points by missing an extra point, having an extra point blocked and missing a field goal; the Dolphins gained points by returning the blocked extra point for 2 points and getting the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Fighting spirit
The Dolphins have managed to find a way to win their past three home games, sometimes in unconventional fashion. Coach Adam Gase thinks he has the explanation. “I think we’ve just got a bunch of fighters,” he said . ...
Defensive end Jason Jones, in his first game back since a two-game NFL-issued suspension, had a strong showing with four tackles, two quarterback hits and a pass defended.